Taking part in math programs as a high school student is a great way to expand your knowledge and prepare for research and STEM competitions. Here’s the list.
Ross Mathematics Program
- Description: the Ross Program is an intensive six-week residential program at Ohio State University, focused on problem-solving, number theory, and combinatorics.
- Eligibility: first-year students are typically 15 to 18 years old, though younger or older students are occasionally accepted. Admission is based on school transcripts, teacher recommendations, essays about the applicant’s interests and goals, and their work on challenging math problems. Students should show a genuine interest in mathematics and science.
- Prestige: highly prestigious; attracts top math enthusiasts.
Canada/USA Mathcamp
- Description: Mathcamp is a five-week summer camp that brings together talented students from around the world and covers many mathematical topics.
- Eligibility: high school students with a passion for mathematics.
- Prestige: renowned for its rigorous curriculum and vibrant community.
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
- Description: PROMYS, held at Boston University, immerses students in advanced, proof-based mathematics.
- Eligibility: high school students with a strong foundation in algebra and geometry.
- Prestige: highly respected; alumni often pursue math-related careers.
AwesomeMath Summer Program
- Description: AwesomeMath offers challenging courses in algebra, number theory, and geometry, encouraging collaboration and problem-solving.
- Eligibility: participants are usually ages 12 to 18 (younger students may be accepted in rare cases with remarkable maturity). It’s designed for bright middle and high school students who want to sharpen their problem-solving, and many participants aim to improve on contests like the AMC 10/12, AIME, or USA(J)MO.
- Prestige: well-regarded within the math community.
MathWorks Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
- Description: held at Texas State University, HSMC offers a rigorous curriculum covering advanced math topics, with multiple tracks in areas like number theory, combinatorics, and algebra.
- Eligibility: students entering 10th or 11th grade who have completed at least one year of algebra and geometry. Applications open January 1st, with review starting February 1st. Early application is encouraged due to limited enrollment, and the first-year acceptance rate is around 15%.
- Prestige: known for its challenging curriculum, drawing high-achieving students from across the country.
Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
- Description: HCSSiM is a six-week program emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and mathematical discovery.
- Eligibility: high school students with a strong interest in math.
- Prestige: known for its transformative impact on participants.
Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science (PRIMES)
- Description: PRIMES pairs students with MIT mentors for original research projects in mathematics, computer science, and related fields.
- Eligibility: high school students with a passion for research.
- Prestige: highly prestigious; produces outstanding research.
Mathematics Advanced Study Semesters (MASS)
- Description: MASS, held at Penn State University, is a semester-long program in advanced mathematics. (It primarily serves undergraduates, so check the program’s eligibility before applying.)
- Prestige: well-regarded; provides a college-level experience.
IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp
- Description: at this University of Minnesota camp, students analyze real-world situations using mathematical models, such as traffic flow on bridges or the climate’s impact on natural resources.
- Eligibility: open to high school students. Check the program site for current eligibility and dates.
- Prestige: notable for its focus on practical applications.
SUMaC (Stanford University Mathematics Camp)
- Description: an immersive experience in advanced mathematics through lectures, guided research, and group problem-solving.
- Eligibility: students in 10th or 11th grade at the time of application. Those who will be 18 or older during the program aren’t eligible for the residential SUMaC but are eligible for SUMaC online. Applicants should have experience reading and writing mathematical proofs, strong high school geometry and algebra, and ideally some prior study of number theory and modular arithmetic.
- Prestige: highly regarded for its rigorous curriculum.
IDEA MATH Camp
- Description: a program offering in-depth enrichment in algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory.
- Eligibility: students entering 5th to 12th grade. Students not recently enrolled in IDEA MATH programs must take a placement test.
- Prestige: well-regarded for its interactive teaching approach.
Free STEM Guide with a list of 50+ opportunities, competitions, internships and more.
More competition lists for high school students:
MOP (Mathematical Olympiad Program)
- Description: MOP, formerly the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) and run by the Mathematical Association of America, is a highly selective program that trains top students for international mathematical competitions. It offers intensive training sessions, problem-solving seminars, and mock Olympiad exams.
- Eligibility: students qualify through their performance in the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). The program serves roughly 100 of the most promising students who have risen to the top of the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) sequence.
- Prestige: prestigious, attracting some of the brightest young mathematicians and providing rigorous competition training.
All Girls/All Math Cryptography Camp
- Description: hosted by the University of Nebraska, this camp focuses on cryptography and mathematical puzzles, encouraging collaboration and creativity.
- Eligibility: high school students entering grades 10-12 in the fall who have completed high school geometry. Special consideration goes to those entering their sophomore or junior year who haven’t yet taken calculus. The camp aims to encourage and mentor young women in mathematics, particularly women of color, in a supportive environment.
- Prestige: unique and intellectually stimulating.
More opportunities
Rishab Jain, who won at ISEF, has succeeded in numerous research competitions and completed several research projects during high school. For those eager to start working toward research and STEM competitions, Rishab offers science fair coaching and a YouTube playlist on how to do research, where he shares his strategies for digging into research and winning at science fairs.
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